Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
50g plain flour
1 egg, beaten
75g fresh breadcrumbs
15g parmesan, finely grated, plus extra to serve
4 tbsp sunflower oil
125g ball mozzarella, cut into 4 slices
300g spaghetti
For the tomato sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
pinch of caster sugar
splash of red wine vinegar
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes or passata
1 tsp dried oregano
Method
STEP 1
Cut each chicken breast in half lengthways so you have four fillets. Put the fillets on a board, cover with a sheet of baking parchment and bash with a rolling pin until they are the same thickness all over.
STEP 2
Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with a little salt. Tip the egg into another dish, then the breadcrumbs and parmesan into a third dish, stirring to combine. Working with one chicken fillet at a time, coat in the flour, then dip into the beaten egg, and finally coat in the cheesy breadcrumb mixture. Transfer the bread crumbed fillets to a plate as you go. To freeze, stack the fillets in a freezer proof container between sheets of baking parchment. Will keep frozen for three months.
STEP 3
To make the sauce, heat the olive oil in a shallow pan and sizzle the garlic for 2 mins. Sprinkle in the sugar and add a splash of the vinegar, then tip in the tomatoes or passata. Add the oregano, season and bubble for 10-15 mins, stirring occasionally until thickened. To freeze, leave to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer proof container (portion it into more than one, if you like). Will keep frozen for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a pan until piping hot.
STEP 4
Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and cook the bread crumbed chicken fillets for 3 mins on each side (fresh or from frozen) until golden and crisp. Arrange on a baking tray. Spoon a little of the sauce over the middle of each fillet, and top each with a slice of mozzarella. Heat the grill to high. Cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, then drain and toss with the remaining sauce. Grill the fillets for 3-4 mins, or 1-2 mins more if they’re from the freezer, until the mozzarella is melted and bubbling, then serve.